What happens when you restart your internet

Restarting your internet means turning off your modem and router, waiting a few seconds, and turning them back on. This clears out temporary data they hold in memory, closes any stuck connections, and forces them to re-establish contact with your internet service provider. Most internet problems — slow speeds, dropped connections, devices that won't connect — get fixed by a restart before anything else needs to happen.

When you restart, your modem (the device that connects to your ISP's network) and your router (the device that broadcasts WiFi to your home) both go through their startup sequence again. This takes about two to five minutes total. During that time, you won't have internet.

Key Takeaways

  • A restart means unplugging both your modem and router for 30 seconds, then plugging them back in — modem first, then router.
  • Wait for all the lights on both devices to stop blinking and settle into a steady pattern before trying to connect.
  • Most internet problems resolve after a restart, so try this before calling your ISP or troubleshooting anything else.
  • If you restart and the problem returns within hours, write down what was happening and contact your ISP with those details.

The step-by-step restart process

Unplug your modem first — this is the device that your ISP's cable or fiber line connects to. It usually sits in a closet, on a shelf, or near where the cable enters your home. Look for a device with a power cord and a cable running to the wall or to a box outside.

Wait 30 seconds with the modem unplugged. This gives it time to fully discharge and clear its memory. Then plug the modem back in and wait for the lights to settle. You will see lights blink rapidly at first, then slow down. When the lights stop changing, the modem is ready — this usually takes 60 to 90 seconds.

Now unplug your router — the device that broadcasts your WiFi signal. It is usually smaller than the modem and sits on a shelf, desk, or mounted on a wall. Unplug it and wait another 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Again, wait for the lights to stop blinking and settle into a steady pattern. This takes another 60 to 90 seconds.

Once both devices are fully restarted, try connecting a device to your WiFi or plugging in an ethernet cable. Your internet should work normally now.

Why the order matters: modem first, then router

Your modem connects to your ISP's network. Your router connects to your modem and broadcasts WiFi to your devices. If you restart the router before the modem is ready, the router will try to connect to a modem that is still booting up, and both devices may get confused about their connection status.

Restarting the modem first ensures it has re-established contact with your ISP before the router tries to connect to it. This prevents the two devices from getting out of sync, which can cause connection problems that last longer than a straightforward restart would fix.

What the lights mean during a restart

Most modems and routers have lights that show their status. During startup, you will see lights blink rapidly or change color. This is normal — the device is running through its startup checks. Once the lights settle into a steady pattern (usually solid green or amber, depending on the brand), the device is ready to use.

If a light stays red or off after five minutes, or if it keeps blinking without settling, something may be wrong with that device. Unplug it again, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. If the light still does not settle after a second restart, contact your ISP — the device may need to be replaced.

When a restart does not fix the problem

If your internet still does not work after a full restart, or if it works for a few hours and then stops again, the problem is likely not a temporary glitch. Write down what was happening when the problem started — were you downloading something large, were multiple people streaming video, was it during a storm, did a specific device stop working.

Contact your ISP and tell them you have already restarted both devices. Give them the details about when the problem happens and what you were doing. They can check whether there is an outage in your area, whether your modem is having trouble staying connected to their network, or whether the problem is with a specific device in your home.

If the problem happens only with one device (like your laptop won't connect but your phone does), the issue is with that device, not your internet. Try restarting just that device, or forgetting the WiFi network and reconnecting to it.

Restarting without unplugging: the soft restart

Some modems and routers have a reset button on the back or bottom. Pressing and holding this button for 10 to 15 seconds restarts the device without unplugging it. This works the same way as unplugging and plugging back in, and it is faster if you can reach the button.

Do not press the reset button for longer than 15 seconds — on many devices, holding it for 20 seconds or more erases all your settings and returns the device to factory defaults. If you do this by accident, you will need to set up your WiFi network name and password again, and you may need to contact your ISP to reconfigure your modem.

If you cannot find the reset button or are not sure which button it is, unplugging the device is always safe and works just as well.

How often you should restart your internet

You do not need to restart your internet on a schedule. Modems and routers are designed to run continuously. Restart only when you are having a problem, or if your ISP tells you to restart as part of troubleshooting.

If you find yourself restarting more than once a week to fix problems, that is a sign something is wrong — either with your equipment or with your ISP's connection to your home. Contact your ISP and describe the pattern. They may replace your modem or send a technician to check the line coming into your house.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to restart my modem and router at the same time, or can I restart just one?

Start with the modem. If that does not fix the problem, then restart the router. Most problems come from the modem losing connection to your ISP, so restarting the modem alone fixes it about 80 percent of the time. Restarting the router helps if devices are having trouble connecting to your WiFi even though the internet itself is working.

How long should I wait between unplugging and plugging back in?

30 seconds is the standard wait time. This gives the device enough time to fully discharge and clear its memory. You can wait longer if you want — 60 seconds is fine — but 30 seconds is the minimum.

What if I restart and my WiFi password stops working?

This usually means you accidentally held the reset button too long and erased the device settings. Check the bottom or back of the modem or router for a sticker with the default WiFi name and password. Use those to reconnect. If you want to change them back to your old password, you may need to log into the device's settings page — your ISP can walk you through this.

Can I restart my internet while I am in the middle of something important?

No — restarting cuts off your internet for two to five minutes. If you are in a video call, downloading a large file, or doing anything that needs an active connection, finish first or save your work. If the internet is already down, you can restart anytime.

Is it bad for my modem or router to restart it too often?

No — restarting does not damage the equipment. However, if you are restarting more than once or twice a month to fix problems, contact your ISP. Frequent restarts usually mean the equipment or the connection itself has a problem that needs fixing, not just a temporary glitch.